From Chuk Yuen Primary to La Salle College
After graduating from Chuk Yuen Ling Tao Primary School, life unexpectedly opened a door for me — a door that changed my future. By great fortune, I was admitted to La Salle College, one of Hong Kong’s finest and most respected secondary schools.
For a boy who grew up through fire, resettlement huts, and hardship, it felt like a dream.
It was more than just a school admission — it was a turning point in my life.
The La Salle Years — A Gift I Will Never Forget
La Salle College stood proudly on Boundary Street — Geodesic-style building with a magnificent dome that impressed every student who walked through its gates. I still remember the feeling on my first day: awe, excitement, and a little fear of the unknown.
But what I found inside those walls was far beyond academics.
It was discipline, brotherhood, opportunity — and kindness.
One person who shaped my journey was Brother Felix (Principal of La Salle College), a man of great compassion. He made it possible for me to study at La Salle by providing:
Free tuition
Free textbooksContinuous support throughout all my secondary years
Without his generosity, I would not have been able to attend this great school. His belief in me gave a young boy from Chuk Yuen a chance — a real chance — to break free from poverty and build a better life. For this, my gratitude to Brother Felix is lifelong and heartfelt.
1964 — Graduation and Heartbreak
I graduated from La Salle College in 1964, but that same year brought a deep sorrow. My father passed away at the young age of 48. Losing him so early was devastating for our family, both emotionally and financially.
As the eldest son, I knew I had to shoulder responsibility. I needed to work.
Right away.
A Helping Hand — And My First Job
In desperation, I went to Brother Felix for help. Without hesitation — without even a moment’s pause — he wrote a recommendation letter introducing me to a La Salle old boy, Mr. Edmund Lo.
When I met Mr. Lo, something extraordinary happened.
He gave me the job immediately.
I started working as a medical detailer for Abbott Laboratories Hongkong, a respected and stable position for a young man with no experience. It was my first real job, and it allowed me to support my family during the most difficult time of our lives.
To this day, I remain deeply grateful:
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To Brother Felix, for his kindness, trust, and unwavering support
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To Mr. Edmund Lo, for giving me a chance when I needed it the most
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To La Salle College, for shaping my values and my future
These people and this school opened a door that changed my destiny.
A Chapter of Gratitude
Looking back now, nearly 60 years later, I realize how lucky I was.
A boy from a fire-displaced family, living in tiny huts with no electricity, somehow found himself studying in one of Hong Kong’s finest institutions.
Life didn’t give us much, but it gave me opportunities at the right moments — and angels in human form who helped me along the way.
This chapter of my journey is not just about education.
It is about gratitude.
About the power of kindness.
And about how one chance can change an entire life.
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